Figured would start a thread for this brand new hotel.
While called City Center, I feel it is just a bit outside. The Hilton Shanghai is actually closer.
I decided to use points for 5 night stay, taking advantage of the 5th night free benefit. Total 200k points for what would've been a 200US$ per night (including the "service charge of 16.6%) rate for the base King room.
I was upgraded to a King "Executive" day before checkin. Since I normally do in-app checkin, I messaged (in-app) asking about upgrade to one of the suites. I was told if they were available the next day (arrival day) that they would upgrade me. Day of when I go to checkin, still only in King Executive despite seeing plenty of availability. Checkin desks tells me I have been upgraded. I ask was it to a suite? Um no, but it's on high floor. I ask can you check if it's possible? She tells me they must be sold out. I pull up app and show her there is availability. Finally she agrees to ask someone. His response was I thought we had upgraded him. (He was under impression all Diamond checkins this day had been upgraded to suites) He apologizes and I instantly was upgraded to a King Deluxe Premium Suite. My takeaway was that management had no issue with upgrading Diamond to suite. (They had plenty available as I found out) It was staff that weren't doing the upgrades.
All told, checkin person seemed a bit out of depth. Another Example - In China hotel must register you with police. Normally very simple, hand over passport, they scan bio page, and done. Not here, agent insisted on seeing the immigration stamp to taje photoof it. Plus insisted on taking a copy of my Chinese visa, which is in my old passport, which caused concern with her. (Again management had to intervene. They told her all you need is bio page. He seemed concerned why she was even asking for visa/stamp. Which makes sense as there's 144HR TWOV available)
All Staff throughout, except for management also seemed brand new, both to Hilton and to the area. Executive lounge staff told me they weren't even from the area. No one could give recommendations on places to eat, get hair cut, shop, etc... All staff were very friendly (as is usual in Asia), just seems like a bit of training would've been useful.
As for the suite, very nicely done. Only few things I had any real issue with.
- The door to rooms are very heavy and opening can be a bit difficult. (Especially if your hands are full)
- The closet doors prevent the drawers in closets from opening. (Unless you get it just right, moving the sliding doors into the exactly right position) The closet doors were really poorly thought out. (The bedroom closet sliding doors, once open the back door, it has no handle/grip available to allow you to close it)
- The main bathroom was very nicely done. Only one issue here. It has sliding doors, one to bedroom and one to living area. (Despite there being a separate bathroom in entrance for guests) Neither door to main bathroom has a latch/lock. Also the doors aren't solid wood, they're slated wood doors! Yes, that's right slated wood doors, meaning easy to see through and easy to smell through! I could understand that to bedroom, but also to living area was just a bad choice. Especially true as there is no latch/lock on either bathroom door. (It also defeats purpose of latch on bedroom main door from lobby. All one need do is walk through main bathroom)
I have pictures to post. However I will need to come back to post those when on laptop. I'll also post about rest of stay then. Just too much to type in one post and FT doesn't have a save function to save and come back to finish, just to post what you've typed.